Preview: Nice vs. Auxerre - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts head into Friday's clash on the back of an impressive 3-0 victory at Monaco, while the visitors claimed a precious 1-0 away win against Lorient last time out.

Match preview

Nice continued their spectacular revival under Didier Digard with a statement victory over Monaco last weekend, netting three first-half goals without reply at the Stade Louis II.

Nigerian striker Terem Moffi bagged a brace inside 26 minutes before Khephren Thuram completed the scoring on the stroke of half time, firing Nice to a fifth victory in six Ligue 1 outings.

In fact, the Eagles have won six of their eight league matches since Digard replaced Lucien Favre as manager back in early January, and they have also conceded just two goals under Digard, keeping six clean sheets in the process.

On top of that, Nice have scored exactly three goals in three of their past four league games, dispatching Marseille and Ajaccio before getting the better of Monaco.

Having lost just one of their previous 16 league encounters - picking up nine wins and six draws along the way - Digard's men will move level on points with sixth-placed Lille if they notch another triumph on Friday.

When Auxerre registered a solitary victory in 17 league matches between late August and early February - suffering 13 defeats in the process - it looked as though the Burgundy outfit were destined for an immediate return to Ligue 2.

However, Christophe Pelissier's side have turned things around in recent weeks, chalking up a four-game unbeaten streak to ease relegation fears at the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Following seven successive Ligue 1 losses, Auxerre recorded back-to-back draws with Reims and Angers before defeating Lyon and Lorient, taking eight points from a possible 12 to move out of the relegation zone.

Granted, Auxerre only find themselves outside the bottom four thanks to their superior offensive record, but they appear to be heading in the right direction after a testing period.

It is worth noting, however, that Auxerre have managed to win just one of their previous five meetings with Nice across all competitions, suffering three defeats along the way.

Nice Ligue 1 form:

W

W

W

W

D

W

Auxerre Ligue 1 form:

L

L

D

D

W

W

Auxerre form (all competitions):

L

D

L

D

W

W

Team News

With backup goalkeeper Marcin Bulka sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Kasper Schmeichel's position as Nice's first-choice shot-stopper is not under threat.

The hosts will also be without the injured trio of Youcef Atal, Joe Bryan and Nicolas Pepe on Friday, with the latter contributing eight goals across all competitions before developing a knee problem.

Having bagged a brace last time out, Lorient loanee Terem Moffi will continue in attack alongside Gaetan Laborde, who has netted three goals in his last six league outings.

As for Auxerre, new signing Elisha Owusu made just one appearance for the club before sustaining an Achilles injury, which is likely to keep him out for the remainder of the campaign.

Owusu has joined long-term absentee Theo Pellenard - who has yet to feature this season - on Auxerre's injury list.

Top scorer Gaetan Perrin has netted five goals in all competitions this term, while former Nottingham Forest forward Nuno Da Costa has contributed four goals and four assists, although Da Costa was absent from last weekend's matchday squad.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Schmeichel; Lotomba, Ndayishimiye, Todibo, Dante, Amraoui; Ramsey, Boudaoui, Thuram; Laborde, Moffi

Auxerre possible starting lineup:

Radu; Raveloson, Jubal, Toure; Zedadka, Massengo, Toure, Mensah; Dembele, Perrin; Abline

We say: Nice 2-0 Auxerre

Regardless of Auxerre's mini-revival in recent weeks, we expect Nice to notch a seventh victory in nine league matches when Pelissier's side visit the Allianz Riviera.

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